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'Hunger Games' and 'Divergent' Franchises Land at TNT

Lionsgate's popular YA movie franchises start their TV run in winter 2015

TNT is dipping its toe into the YA dystopian trend, landing television rights to The Hunger Games and Divergent franchises in a major deal with Lionsgate.

As part of the pact, the Turner-owned network will premiere the final two installments in Suzanne Collins' popular Hunger Games series, Mockingjay — Part 1, opening in theaters Nov. 21, and Mockingjay — Part 2, hitting screens next November. TNT will also get rights to the first two blockbuster films, Hunger Games and sequel Catching Fire, which ABC Family will first premiere through a deal made in 2012. Hunger Games makes its television debut Friday, Oct. 10, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the Disney-owned network.

Hunger Games and Catching Fire are expected to premiere on TNT in winter 2015 and winter 2016, respectively, followed by Mockingjay — Part 1 in 2017 andMockingjay — Part 2 in 2018.

Hot off the $275 million worldwide box office performance for Divergent, TNT has snagged TV rights for the entire four-film series, including the forthcoming Insurgent sequel, slated for theatrical release March 20, 2015. Divergent will air in 2016, with the following three films (the final book in the trilogy, Allegiant, will be split into two films) premiering over the next three years.

"The Hunger Games and Divergent franchises fit perfectly within TNT's brand evolution and expansion into action-packed genre programming," said Michael Wright, president and head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies. "Like our current hits The Last Ship and Legends and the upcoming series The Librarians, the movies in these franchises are ideal for drawing young adults to the network. We look forward to making The Hunger Games and Divergent movies the kind of event programming that will engage and excite fans for years to come."

"We're delighted to launch this partnership with TNT for two of our biggest global franchises," said Jim Packer, Lionsgate president of worldwide television and digital distribution. "The agreement underscores the breadth and depth of our content portfolio and supplies TNT with blockbuster franchises that will resonate with their audiences for many years to come."